How to Find Public Dissertations

A dissertation is created by a PhD candidate after successfully completing qualifying exams in order to gain tenure at universities. A dissertation can be on any topic of social significance. It represents years of study and research, and the author is considered a specialist. Dissertations are available to the public for free or for a fee. Most public dissertations are accessed on line, however, you can still visit your local library or university to pick the brain of an actual librarian and to use off-line catalogs to access public dissertations. Many universities like the California Institute of Technology, and the University of Florida have their own theses available for free. World Cat and Pro Quest on line contain dissertations from around the world.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer Internet access Public Library
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Instructions

    • 1

      Visit your local library or university library or log on to a web site specializing in public dissertations like Dissertations.com. or DNLTD: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. Please see reference 1 and resource 2.

    • 2

      Search the libraries card catalog for "public dissertations" and consult an experienced librarian, or using your computer, type in "public dissertations" in the search bar located in the home page of dissertations.com. or another similar web site.

    • 3

      Refine your search by choosing the category of the dissertation you want, i.e., science, the humanities, economics, or mathematics. Search the library card catalog or if working on line, click the "sort by" option after you have clicked "public dissertations" to locate a specific dissertation of interest and select "published date," "title," "featured titles," or "best selling."

    • 4

      Scroll through the card catalog or related web sites until you find the dissertation you want. If using the card catalog, find the location of the manuscript or if working on line, click on to the dissertation you have selected with your computer mouse.

    • 5

      Locate the public dissertation at the library and ask to check out a copy of it or print out a hard copy of your own on the libraries printer which may be available for a fee. If working on line, download the dissertation and save it to a file on your computer for future reference.

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